Ceiling fixture support

ABSTRACT

CEILING FIXTURES ARE SHOWN SECURED IN OPENINGS BY SLIDEABLE ARMS WHICH MOVE TO PROJECT OVER CEILING MEMBERS AND ROTATE AND ARE LOCKED DOWN THEREAGAINST. A PLURALITY OF SUCH ARMS ARE SHOWN TO DRAW A FLANGE OF THE FIXTURE UPWARDLY TO ALIGN WITH OR PRESS AGAINST THE CEILING AS THE ARMS PRESS DOWN ON THE CEILING MEMBER. THE SLIDEABLE MOVEMENT IS SHOWN ACHIEVED BY MATCHIN PIN AND ELONGATED SLOT, WITH THE ARM ROTATING ABOUT THE PIN IN THE PROJECTED POSITION. GUIDANCE OF THE ARM IS ACHIEVED BY A MEMBER WHICH FOLLOWS A GUIDE THAT CURVES DOWNWARDLY IN THE REGION CORRESPONDING TO THE PROJECTED POSITION OF THE ARM. A PROJECTION IS SHOWN SERVING AS A HANDLE AND DEFINES THE LOCKING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE BY THE LOCKING MEMBER, WHILE THE LOCKING MEMBER IS SHOWN AS A CAM. ALL PARTS CAN BE SIMPLY FORMED AOUT OF SHEET METAL AND OCCUPY LITTLE SPACE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION.

May 23, 1972 KRUGER 3,664,615

CEILING FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 21, 1969 2 Sheets-Sneet May 23, 1972M. H. KRUGER 3,664,615

CEILING FIXTURE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-5heet 2 Filed Aug. 21, ;1969

AJ 28 F J 34 3O P\ F v United States Patent 3,664,615 CEILING FIXTURESUPPORT Michael H. Kruger, Chestnut Hill, Mass., assignor to SmithcraftCorporation, Wilmington, Mass. Filed Aug. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 851,950Int. Cl. Hk 5/00 US. Cl. 248-27 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURECeiling fixtures are shown secured in openings by slideable arms whichmove to project over ceiling members and rotate and are locked downthereagainst. A plurality of such arms are shown to draw a flange of thefixture upwardly to align with or press against the ceiling as the armspress down on the ceiling member. The slideable movement is shownachieved by matching pin and elongated slot, with the arm rotating aboutthe pin in the projected position. Guidance of the arm is achieved by amember which follows a guide that curves downwardly in the regioncorresponding to the projected position of the arm. A projection isshown serving as a handle and defines the locking surface engageable bythe locking member, while the locking member is shown as a cam. Allparts can be simply formed out of sheet metal and occupy little space inthe retracted position.

The object of the invention is to provide fixtures, especially lightingfixtures, having improved means of locking the fixtures to the hiddenmembers of the ceiling after the installer has raised the fixture intothe ceiling open- The problem of providing an efficient locking systemis not as simple as it might appear, because of the number ofconsiderations which bear and their to-a-degree conflicting nature.Among these are the locking system which should not add significantly tothe cost of the fixture; it should be reliable so as to provide suresupport throughout the life of the mixture; it should be operable by aninstaller standing below who has no access to the region above theceiling; it should occupy little space; and it should be operable bypersons having little skill.

According to one aspect of the invention it was realized that improvedfixture locking is achieved by an arm slideably constrained by thefixture or by an attachment thereto, slideable from an inner position toa projected position, in the latter the arm overlying the ceiling memberthat bounds the open space. The arm is pivotal in its projected positionso that the outer portion of the arm may rotate downwardly toward theceiling member. A locking member then locks the arm and thus the fixtureto the ceiling.

The invention features a plurality of the slideable arms arranged todraw a flange of the fixture to a level even with or against the ceilingsurface.

The invention also features a side surface of the arm disposed against aside surface of the fixture or against an attachment secured to thefixture, and the slideable movement is achieved by an elongated slot inone and a pin, engaged with the slot, secured to the other; also the armin its projected position is adapted to rotate about the pin.Advantageously the slot inclines upwardly-outwardly, and the arm movesin like direction.

The invention also features a locking surface on the outer portion ofthe arm engaged and locked down by a rotatable cam; a member protrudingfrom the arm useful as a handle for manual movement of the arm to itsprojected position, and engaged with a guide, advanice tageously ashaped slot, which guides the outer end of the arm to move out and thendown as it reaches its projected position; the locking device engaged onthis guiding element to lock it in place; and all of the above simplyfabricated from sheet metal elements which can lie flat, side by side,occupying little space, and operable from within the bulbcontaining-space of a fluorescent lighting fixture by simple movementsby a single installer.

Other objects and features will be understood from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken inconnection with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly broken away of a ceiling fixturesecured in place by a locking system according to a preferred embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the fixture of FIG. 1 with the armin a retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arm in the projected but raisedposition;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the arm in the locked position;

FIGS. 31: and 4a are views taken of the inside of the housingcorresponding to the arm positions shown respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 4b is a cross section taken on line 46 of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the arm, a portion of the side wallof the fixture and the cam locking member;

FIG. 6 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the locking arm of thepreferred embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the ceiling fixture of the preferredembodiment has top wall 10, side walls 12 and 14 and lower flanges 12and 14f. As shown the fixture (advantageously a lighting fixture adaptedto hold fluorescent bulbs 16 shown in dotted lines) is sized to beinserted in an opening of standard dimensions in a suspended ceiling 18.As is common the opening is bounded by ceiling members, here invertedTs, 20, suspended by wires 22 or other means, which are intended tosupport both the ceiling tiles and the fixture.

In the embodiment of the figures the fixture is rectangular, has flangeson each side and there are four locking devices, 24, one at each corner.In FIG. 1 the arms 26 are shown in their projected locked positions,engaging the inverted Ts, 20, see also FIGS. 4 and 4a.

Referring in particular to FIG. 5 the arm 26 is formed e.g. of anelongated stamping of sheet metal or die casting. It has an outerportion 28 terminating in an enlarged end 30. There is formed in the arman elongated slot 32 which extends distance T and a member, here shownas tab 34, which projects transversely to the side of the arm. The sidesurface of the arm is placed against the surface of side 14 of thefixture housing, and pin or rivet 36, secured to side 14, protrudesthrough slot 32 and has a head that secures the two together looselyenough to allow sliding.

A slot 38 is provided in fixture side 14 and through it protrudes tab34. The parts are arranged so that when arm 26 is retracted so that theforward end P of the slot 32 in the arm engages pin 36, tab 34 engagesrearward end R of slot 38 in the side of the housing; and when the armis in the projected position and pin 36 engages the rear end R of slot32 in the arm, the projecting tab 34 is at the forward end F of slot 38.The forward end of slot 38 curves downward on an are centered on pin 36.Through this curved slot tab 34 can fall until the arm engages aresistance, i.e. the ceiling member. This occurs with pivoting of thearm 26 about pin 36, e.g. from the dotted to the solid line positions asshown in FIG. 6.

A cam plate 40, also a stamping of sheet metal, is secured to the insidesurface of side 14 of the housing and is held in place by a wing nut 41.It is centered at 42 such that when the nut is loosened the cam canrotate (compare FIGS. 3a and 411) until the cam periphery engages thetab 34, thus locking the arm down. The reaction forces acting upwardlyof the mounting of the cam tend to raise the housing e.g. until theflange 12f aligns with or seats against the ceiling.

When a fixture is to be installed all arms 26 are retracted to theposition shown in FIG. 2, inwardly from a vertical line through therespective flange of the fixture. Thus the fixture can be raised intothe opening of the ceiling without interference of the slideable arms.When in this position the workman successively grasps the projections 34of each of the arms 26 (the cam wing nuts 41 having previously beenloosened) and he slides each arm (now hidden from his view) outwardly.As shown in FIG. 2 the two slots 32, 38, are both inclined at an angleat to the horizontal and thus the arms slide outwardly at that anglehelping the ends of the arms to clear well above the ceiling member 20.

As each arm reaches its fully projected position, the workman releasesthe tab 34 which now registers in the arcuate slot which has its centeron the pin 36. The amount of rotation of each arm when it is releaseddepends upon how fully the fixture has been inserted into the ceilingopening.

When all four arms are projected, then the installer grasps each cam 40successively and turns it until the cam periphery engages and pressesdownwardly on the tab 34. The cam may be turned until substantialpressure is exerted on the arm, and through the arm, onto the ceilingmember. The cam being rotatably secured to the fixtures at 42, there isan upward reaction force acting through this connection, upon thefixture itself. Thus if the fixture is not seated, by continued rotationof cam 40 the reaction force will cause the fixture to rise until thecorresponding fixture flange comes even with the ceiling, compare FIGS.3 and 4.

When each cam is tightened so that the fixture is in its properposition, the wing nut may be tightened, locking the cams in place. Forremoval of the fixture the reverse movements are possible.

It will be understood that other embodiments of the various features arepossible within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a ceiling fixture in the form of a housing for illuminating bulbsadapted to be secured within an open space of a ceiling by meansprojecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said open space, theimprovement wherein said means comprises an arm slideably constrainedrelative to said fixture by means of spaced apart inner and outer pointsof support, said points of support confining said arm to a predeterminedorientation as it slides from an inner position to a projected positionin which said arm overlies said ceiling member, and a releasable lockingmember mounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of saidfixture and including a movable member releasably engageable with saidarm whereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member aretransmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly, saidarm having a side surface disposed adjacent to a side surface of amember secured to said housing, said inner and outer points of supportdefined by slot means and two slot-followers engaged therewith, in saidprojected position said slot-followers being spaced substantially fromeach other, the slot means portion engaging one of said slot-followerswhen said arm is in its projected position having an arcuate portionadapted to permit rotation of said arm about said other slotfollower toallow said arm to engage said ceiling member.

2. The ceiling fixture of claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises twoelongated slots extending in substantially the same direction for mostof their length, one of said slots provided in said arm, the other in acorresponding side surface of said secured member, one of said slotfollowers being a pin secured to said secured member and engaged withthe slot of said arm, the other of said slot followers comprising aprojection from said arm engaged with the slot in said secured memberand having an extension exposed for use as a handle to project said armoutwardly, said projection positioned outwardly of said pin when the armis projected, the slot in said secured member having a downwardextending portion at its outer end, permitting downward movement of saidhandle and the corresponding portion of said arm when the later isprojected.

3. The ceiling fixture of claim 1 wherein said member secured to saidhousing comprises a side member of said housing.

4. In a ceiling fixture in the form of a housing for illuminating bulbsadapted to be secured within an open space of a ceiling by meansprojecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said open space, theimprovement wherein said means comprises an arm slidably constrainedrelative to said fixture by means of spaced apart inner and outer pointsof support, said points of support confining said arm to a predeterminedorientation as it slides from an inner position to a projected positionin which said arm overlies said ceiling member, and a releasable lockingmember mounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of saidfixture and including a movable member releasably engageable with saidarm whereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member aretransmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly,

said outer point of support including a member protruding from the sideof said arm in a direction transverse to the direction of said slideablemovement, and said fixture including a guide having surfaces whichdefine a channel within which said member slides, said channel includinga first portion parallel to said direction of said slideable movementand a second portion extending generally downward from the end of saidfirst portion, said arm having a side surface disposed against a fixedmember of said fixture, an elongated slot provided in one, extending inthe direction of slidable movement of said arm, a pin member secured inthe other, the pin and slot providing said inner support enabling saidslideable movement of said arm, said arm member, in its projectedposition, being supported only by said pin, whereby said arm isrotatable about said pin.

5. In a ceiling fixture adapted to be secured within an opening space ofa ceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that boundssaid openspace, the improvement wherein said means comprises an armslideably constrained relative to said fixture by means of spaced apartinner and outer points of support, said points of support confining saidarm to a predetermined orientation as it slides from an inner positionto a projected position in which said arm overlies said ceiling member,and a releasable locking member mounted to a fixed point with respect tothe remainder of said fixture and including a movable member releasablyengageable with said arm whereby during engagement reaction forces onsaid locking member are transmitted through its mounting to press saidfixture upwardly, said outer point of support including a memberprotruding from the side of said arm in a direction transverse to thedirection of said slideable movement, and said fixture including a guidehaving surfaces which define a channel within Which said member slides,said channel including a first portion parallel to said direction ofsaid slideable movement and a second portion extending generallydownward from the end of said first portion.

6. The ceiling fixture of claim 5 wherein said movable member of saidlocking member comprises a rotatable cam having a camming surfaceexposed to effectively engage said protruding member said cam surfaceshaped, upon rotation, to progressively apply relative downward forceand movement adapted to urge said member downwardly along its guide,until the outer portion of said arm seats upon said ceiling member.

7. The ceiling fixture of claim 5 wherein said arm has a side surfacedisposed against a corresponding side surface of a member secured tosaid fixture, an elongated slot in said fixture side surface definessaid guide for said member, said member engaged in said slot, theoutward portion of said slot extending downwardly to guide said arm inits rotation.

8. The ceiling fixture of claim 7 wherein said inner support includes anelongated slot in said arm and a pin mounted on said fixture sidesurface and engaged in said elongated slot when said arm is projected,said pin defining the center of said rotation of said arm.

9. In a ceiling fixture adapted to be secured within an open space of aceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds saidopen space, the improvement wherein said means comprises an armslideably constrained relative to said fixture, said arm slideable froman inner position to a projected position in which said arm overliessaid ceiling member, said arm being pivotably constrained in saidprojected position so that the outer portion of the arm may rotatedownwardly toward said ceiling member, and a cam member rotatablymounted on said fixture, said cam being rotatable by the installer andhaving a camming surface for engaging said arm, said cam surface shaped,upon rotation, to progressively apply relative downward force andmovement to said arm, whereby rotation of said cam urges said armagainst said ceiling member and further rotation results in a reactionforce upon the mounting of said cam thereby applying lifting force tosaid fixture to raise and hold it in position.

10. In a ceiling fixture adapted to be secured within an open space of aceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds saidopen space, the improvement wherein said means comprises an armslideably constrained relative to said fixture, said arm slidable froman inner position to a projected position in which said arm overliessaid ceiling member, said arm being pivotably constrained in saidprojected position so that the outer portion of the arm may rotatedownwardly toward said ceiling member, a releasable locking membermounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of said fixtureand including a movable member releasably engageable with said armwhereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member aretransmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly, amember extending from said arm in a direction transverse to thedirection of said slideable movement, said member exposed and shaped foruse as a handle enabling the installer manually to shift said arm fromits retracted to its extended position, said ceiling fixture including aguide for said handle member adapted to permit rotation of said arm asit reaches its projected position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,757 7/1947 Dedge 248-57 X2,593,033 4/ 1952 Johnson 24827 3,052,369 9/ 1962 Taibi 24827 X WILLIAMH. SCHULTZ, Primary Examiner

